Transdisciplinary Training in
Sleep and Circadian Research (T32)
Supported by NIH T32 HL149646 and
the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School,
and the Vice Chancellor for Research
at the University of Colorado Boulder
This training program aims to recruit, select and retain outstanding trainees, promote inclusive excellence, provide high quality training, educational, and career development experiences to prepare trainees for research-intensive and research-related careers; shape tomorrow’s scientific leaders, foster rigorous and collaborative sleep and circadian science, ensure successful progress of trainees toward predetermined milestones defined in Individual Development Plans; and expand the number of investigators conducting transdisciplinary sleep and circadian science.
Programmatic Goals
The University of Colorado transdisciplinary training program is designed to prepare outstanding pre-(PhD) and post-(PhD, MD/PhD, MD) doctoral fellows for science careers that address cutting-edge basic and clinical research questions that represent the future of biomedical research. The training program will foster transdisciplinary research with state-of-the-art technologies and methods used by participating T32 faculty laboratories.
The program is novel in that it exposes trainees and faculty from diverse biomedical research backgrounds to collaborative sleep and circadian science. Similarly, current sleep and circadian trainees and expert faculty benefit from meaningful interactions with investigators from different research backgrounds, particularly those from biomedical research areas that are of high importance to the NIH.
The research training activities of the participating T32 faculty emphasize transdisciplinary training in sleep and circadian physiology with research programs focused on cardiovascular, genetics/genomics, metabolomics, proteomics, biomarker development, bioinformatics, biostatistics, epidemiology, stress physiology, immunology, endocrinology, metabolism, obesity, diabetes, neuroscience, pediatrics, development, aging, psychiatry, and pulmonary and behavioral sleep medicine.
Career development is an important part of our program and we actively help our doctoral and post-doctoral trainees obtain their next training or job placements and assist them with future career advancement. Details on the required core curriculum and training activities can be found at the link below.
Diversity / Inclusive Excellence Strategy
This T32 is committed to inclusive excellence and diversity in the training of future biomedical research scientists. We aim to train a diverse workforce through the participation of trainees from all groups in our research teams. We seek and encourage applications from outstanding trainees including, but not limited to, underrepresented minorities, underserved communities, trainees with disabilities, individuals who identify as sexual orientation/gender minorities, first generation college students, and women. Diversity is highly valued by our scientific community as it provides innovative, balanced, and informed perspectives that enhances scientific productivity and fosters the growth of the scientific field.
See CU institutional and external information on career development resources for diverse trainee populations, such as the CU Boulder- Summer Multicultural Access to Research Training Program (SMART), which is intended for undergraduate students who are interested in preparing for graduate degrees in science, math and engineering. The summer program provides students the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a faculty mentor, and participate in workshops designed to strengthen scientific writing and oral presentation skills; the CU Anschutz - Graduate Experience for Multicultural Students (GEMS) which provides undergraduate students with research opportunities and exposure to the realistic lifestyle of biomedical research
Many of our T32 training faculty also participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Information on undergraduate research opportunities can be found at the laboratory webpages of the T32 training faculty.
Multi-Institutional Summer Undergraduate Research Program to Promote Diversity and Excellence in Sleep and Circadian Research Careers (R25)
Public Health Relevance
Insufficient sleep and circadian dysregulation cause, promote and exacerbate major medical health problems such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, depression and respiratory disorders. The number of investigators being trained in transdisciplinary sleep and circadian research cannot keep pace with the accelerating health-care problems associated with insufficient sleep and circadian dysregulation. This training program aims to increase the number of researchers in the pipeline and facilitate the development of the next generation of scientific leaders; and thereby, this training program will ultimately contribute to knowledge of integrative physiological mechanisms and the treatment of disease that will advance the health and well-being of the public.
Further Information
Training Plan / Core Curriculum
Applications from Pre-doctoral and Post-doctoral candidates for 2024-2025
*Please note* Start date between March 1, 2024 – February 28, 2025
ALL applications must demonstrate a relation to sleep and circadian rhythm research. The application and criteria for both pre and postdoctoral candidates can be obtained by downloading it here: application.
Key dates are as follows:
- January 8, 2024 by 5PM Mountain Time - Prior to making application, the prospective Primary mentor must contact Prof. Wright by email Kenneth.wright@colorado.edu about the proposed project topic to ensure that it is generally responsive to the aims of the T32, and receive an approval email from him to move forward with the application.
- January 22, 2024 by 5PM Mountain Time - Application submission deadline.
Please email Prof. Kenneth Wright with any questions - Kenneth.wright@colorado.edu